Hampton Court Palace has seen some things. Think of this book as a whirlwind tour of the history of the British monarchy, with stops at some of the most interesting moments -- Catherine Howard in disgrace, Charles I coming to terms with the disastrous end of his reign, George II striking George III. It may seem like review if you've read a lot about this history, but Russell is an engaging writer (check out his bio of Catherine Howard) and I found a lot to hold my attention.